ripped off by gamestop

[PapaStu]

This has happened to me more times than I could count (well I could count them because of the way that I track my games, but thats neither here nor there). There are games it bothers me with and I will ask for a sealed one and if they have no others, I say thanks but no and walk out. I'm not going to be stunned that my local GS only got in one copy of Princess Debut for the DS, and that I'm buying sed copy and that the case has been opened. It's just the fact of life for games that are niche small titles and ones that have been on the shelves for a long time (like Oblivion).

What I don't get is that you said you looked online and it was going to take 2 weeks for the game to show up. Where is this the case? I check both Amazon and GameStop and they both currently have PS3, PC and 360 copies available for sale at 29 a pop, new and would ship in 24 hours. Heck, if you ordered Amazon, you'd have not even paid shipping if you chose Saver shipping and it would probably only show up a few days after a faster paid for method not to mention you'd have paid no sales tax either.

I can perfectly understand the desire to have a game now, I get that way any number of times a year. Especially if you arn't buying all that many in the first place due to your financial situation, but I guess i'm not feeling all that bad for you because you still chose to pull the trigger at the end. Their policy of displaying the games they have in stock forces them to gut a copy, its just how it is.

[TRM]

A few noteworthy things.

I rarely shop at Gamestop. However, I rarely purchase or play videogames anymore. I have been playing the Mario Party series on Gamecube lately, but otherwise stick with the classic games that I know and enjoy. My older brother loves gaming in general, and he browses Gamestop whenever he gets the chance. His only complaint about the store is that sometimes the employees are a little too anxious to ask him if he needs any help or what not, when my brother just wants to be left alone to browse the shelves. Otherwise, he has no complaints. However, the difference is probably that my brother is a gamer, and not a collector. If there are a few stickers on the box, or the game is missing a manual, it is not preferable to him, but at the end of the day my brother wants to be able to sit down and play the game. I have a few other buddies which shop at Gamestop for XBox games from time to time...once again, they are gamers first and foremost. For the person who is merely a gamer and not a collector, I think that Gamestop works fine. As someone else also mentioned, around my area Gamestop, Wal Mart and Target are the only places where one can typically buy videogames. The closest Best Buy is easily an hour away, and not worth the drive, and if one really just wants to find the game and buy it and then play it, Gamestop seems to work okay, since they have a larger selection of games and so forth.

To those who claim that a "new" game without shrinkwrap but never played is technically not new: I disagree with this opinion. Let's say that I go to Barnes and Noble and purchase a book which is for sale. Chances are, that someone had leafed through the pages previously, and maybe they even sat down to read parts of the book before buying it!?!? However, I am pretty sure that most people consider the books being sold at Barnes and Noble as new, despite the fact that they may technically have been fingered through (and thus potentially briefly used). On the other hand, if the disc at Gamestop was removed from the case but NEVER used, I really do not see how that alone makes the game used. If one tries to sell it later on eBay for instance stating that it was never used, yet is missing the shrink, there may be a problem because there really is no evidence supporting the fact that the game is indeed new. But the act of having the game removed from the shrinkwrap does not make it used, if it never was used.

On a further note, I believe that Gamestop employees should not be able to take the new games home or play with the new games. That would make the games used, and then selling them as new in this case seems a bit deceitful. However, if this was not allowed to happen, and the games were opened but never used, then they should be sold as new, because after all...they were never used!

[TRM]

When I worked there, probably about 5 years ago now, I remember the head store manager of the area said something about "possession" and that when people can actually hold the game in their hand and look through it and all that, they're more likely to buy the game or what have you. Apparently it worked. In a way I kind of like it. I know whenever I go to Gamecrazy I don't even think of their new games because they're all behind the counter and just to look at the game you have to get an employee to pull it down for you.

Working in retail for four years or so, and also taking a few marketing (and many business) classes have supported the notion of the head store manager 100%. Everyone wants to see the stuff before they buy it, and there are plenty of people which prefer as little interaction with other people as possible and/or do not want to have to flag down a clerk to start asking about a title for sale, and thus having a case they can walk around with and hold works wonders, and bags the sale. Personally, I am another one of the people who will not bother to look at games, electronics, etc if I have to track down and ask an employee to show it to me.

[Kyle15]

A few noteworthy things.
To those who claim that a "new" game without shrinkwrap but never played is technically not new: I disagree with this opinion. Let's say that I go to Barnes and Noble and purchase a book which is for sale. Chances are, that someone had leafed through the pages previously, and maybe they even sat down to read parts of the book before buying it!?!? However, I am pretty sure that most people consider the books being sold at Barnes and Noble as new, despite the fact that they may technically have been fingered through (and thus potentially briefly used). On the other hand, if the disc at Gamestop was removed from the case but NEVER used, I really do not see how that alone makes the game used. If one tries to sell it later on eBay for instance stating that it was never used, yet is missing the shrink, there may be a problem because there really is no evidence supporting the fact that the game is indeed new. But the act of having the game removed from the shrinkwrap does not make it used, if it never was used.

On a further note, I believe that Gamestop employees should not be able to take the new games home or play with the new games. That would make the games used, and then selling them as new in this case seems a bit deceitful. However, if this was not allowed to happen, and the games were opened but never used, then they should be sold as new, because after all...they were never used!

You can't compare items that generally come sealed in plastic to those that don't.
Most books are released and priced accordingly. If any get messed up during their time on the shelf, they are taken care of most of the time.
This is not the same with games.

Also, to quote a GS employee: "If you buy a sealed game from us and open it, the game is now used whether or not you even opened up the case."
To this I said: "Why can you all open a game, do whatever you want with it, and call it new?"
His answer: "Sorry, there's a grey area there."

Gamestop absolutely makes me sick sometimes. :P

[NayusDante]

His answer: "Sorry, there's a grey area there."

That answer is a hell of a lot better than what I got:

"Because WE know it's still new."

[TRM]

You can't compare items that generally come sealed in plastic to those that don't.
Most books are released and priced accordingly. If any get messed up during their time on the shelf, they are taken care of most of the time.
This is not the same with games.

Also, to quote a GS employee: "If you buy a sealed game from us and open it, the game is now used whether or not you even opened up the case."
To this I said: "Why can you all open a game, do whatever you want with it, and call it new?"
His answer: "Sorry, there's a grey area there."

Gamestop absolutely makes me sick sometimes. :P

Well if you open it up and do not play it, then it is still technically a new game. Proving this to Gamestop or to Farmer Joe down the street, it could be a difficult thing, but regardless, it is still technically new. If a store opens up an item to place one on display, keeps it under lock and key, does not use it, and sells it as new...it is just that...new. If people really get so sick by Gamestop, then just stop shopping there. I mean, I really do not see what the big deal is. If the store is selling the game as new, and it looks new, and so forth, if it is the display copy and is opened, there really is no way to prove if it was used by employees or not, so sometimes one just has to take things on faith.

I've seen books before at various Waldens/Borders/Barnes and the like which were shrinked, next to unshrinked copies...but I think the unshrinked ones would be also new...

Anyway, new is new, and used is used, and shrink or no shrink is not the 100% evidence of usage or not.

[Icarus Moonsight]

The proof of 'NEW' is in the plastic wrapper. Not wrapped? Don't take someones word for it. Assume it's anything but new. Do otherwise if you want. Even buy it. Hoping that they won't be pricks about a refund/exchange if needed. Just don't count on it. I'm not a gambler when it comes to my time and money. Others are. It's a personal choice.

Also, don't go crying to anyone (even the internet) when your own decisions backfire on you.

[Kyle15]

Well if you open it up and do not play it, then it is still technically a new game. Proving this to Gamestop or to Farmer Joe down the street, it could be a difficult thing, but regardless, it is still technically new. If a store opens up an item to place one on display, keeps it under lock and key, does not use it, and sells it as new...it is just that...new. If people really get so sick by Gamestop, then just stop shopping there. I mean, I really do not see what the big deal is. If the store is selling the game as new, and it looks new, and so forth, if it is the display copy and is opened, there really is no way to prove if it was used by employees or not, so sometimes one just has to take things on faith.

I've seen books before at various Waldens/Borders/Barnes and the like which were shrinked, next to unshrinked copies...but I think the unshrinked ones would be also new...

Anyway, new is new, and used is used, and shrink or no shrink is not the 100% evidence of usage or not.

Um, factory sealing obviously means it was never used.
To me, if it is opened, it isn't new. I have no idea where it has been just like a used game.
I have bought a couple of "new" opened games from eBay, all of which looked used. There was absolutely no way they were new.
GS is also guilty of this, and it has happened to me.

About a year ago, I decided to go for Killer7 for the GC at a local GS. They only had an opened "new" copy, but it was only $10, so I grabbed it because it wasn't full price.
To my surprise, I got home and found adhesive on both game discs. I normally look before I buy used stuff, but I took the benefit of the doubt with this "new" game and didn't check it.
The store did let me exchange it for a used copy which happened to be pristine of all things.

Anyway, I've learned a lesson: don't go for anything "new" opened at GS, be it a 50% discounted game or not.

[TRM]

Um, factory sealing obviously means it was never used.

word: reseals...

[monkeychemist]

What I don't get is that you said you looked online and it was going to take 2 weeks for the game to show up. Where is this the case? I check both Amazon and GameStop and they both currently have PS3, PC and 360 copies available for sale at 29 a pop, new and would ship in 24 hours. Heck, if you ordered Amazon, you'd have not even paid shipping if you chose Saver shipping and it would probably only show up a few days after a faster paid for method not to mention you'd have paid no sales tax either.

I looked at the online stores like you mentioned but if you go with the free shipping option on amazon, or ship to store at Walmart/Target you have to wait two weeks. Don't believe me, pretend to buy it and look at the expected receiving date, yup it's in 2 weeks. The only way that they ship within 24 hours is if you pay for shipping. Shipping is usually $4-5 which is more expensive than FL tax (~$2). So with that justification I felt that it was worth paying the tax to have my game here immediately (and it supports my State).

[NayusDante]

Sales tax is a good thing, please pay it. That goes to things like education, roads, etc.

[The 1 2 P]

word: reseals...

Theres a big difference between y-fold factory seal and shrink wrap reseals. The majority of us gamers can spot the difference a mile away and I can even do it blind folded.

[Gameguy]

How is that possible when the game cases, manuals and all, are right there on the shelves to be taken up to the register?

It could depend on the location, at EB Games(which is basically Gamestop) some stores keep the manuals with the games on the side. Apparently some places had people stealing the manuals so they now keep them separately. Other locations don't care and keep everything in the case.



I do buy games from them, but pretty much just used games or games that are extremely cheap. If it's a good price, as in a price that I'd consider buying a used copy at, I'll get it. For games with cardboard boxes I ask them to be shrink wrapped instead of having a sticker put on to seal the box, it just makes it easier for me and they usually do it without complaining. Overall the store seems to be run similar to how my local thrifts are run so it's not that bad compared to other stores. The Value Villages I've been to apply price stickers to paper books and comic books all the time, and they write their marks using grease pencils on everything including fabric which is just stupid as it's hard or impossible to get off. I'm not sure what kind of stores you're used to where it's better than Gamestop, the main differences are other stores use better price stickers but are sold out of games before Gamestop is or never carried those games to begin with. I don't like major retail stores in general, they're all terrible.

[Richter Belmount]

How did he get ripped off? He knew of gamestops business practices , knew he could it cheaper online ,knew he could get it sealed online.However he still gave them his money being self aware of all his options. You just ripped yourself off by giving into convenient .I think a rip off is more along the lines of the phrase bait and switch , however this didn't take place with the deal you got since your self aware and informed of your purchase options. We know buying from Game Stop sucks however we don't have the need to vent about it all the time.

[Oobgarm]

How did he get ripped off? He knew of gamestops business practices , knew he could it cheaper online ,knew he could get it sealed online.However he still gave them his money being self aware of all his options. You just ripped yourself off by giving into convenient .I think a rip off is more along the lines of the phrase bait and switch , however this didn't take place with the deal you got since your self aware and informed of your purchase options. We know buying from Game Stop sucks however we don't have the need to vent about it all the time.

QUIET!

It's a discussion forum, he has the right to whine and complain! He said so himself!

[monkeychemist]

How did he get ripped off? He knew of gamestops business practices ,

Actually I didn't until it happened

knew he could it cheaper online

That's absolutely untrue, I could have gotten it for the same price online or more expensive due to shipping

knew he could get it sealed online.However he still gave them his money being self aware of all his options.

Actually for the time that I wanted the game this was my only option

You just ripped yourself off by giving into convenient .I think a rip off is more along the lines of the phrase bait and switch , however this didn't take place with the deal you got since your self aware and informed of your purchase options. We know buying from Game Stop sucks however we don't have the need to vent about it all the time.

This is my first time venting about GS since it was my first purchase. I now realize that this topic has been done a bunch of time so sorry for wasting your 2 minutes reading and writing on this thread, but hey, no one forced you to read it

[shopkins]

Really, I order things from Amazon all the time and it almost never takes more than a week for it to get here. Standard shipping is about 3 to 5 business days, even free Super Saver shipping is about 5 to 9 days. I'm not criticizing you for not wanting to wait, I understand that sometimes you need something right now. I'm just saying that in the future don't be too worried about having to wait forever for Amazon purchase.

This is if you buy it directly from Amazon. Amazon Marketplace Sellers can be slower.

[Icarus Moonsight]

If the place totally bugs you, don't shop there.

I missed this post last time I checked... I just want to say; Stop mixing calm reason into all this venting and biting sarcasm! It's like watering down a beer. Sure, It makes sense (profit/discussion-wise) but, It's Oh. So. Wrong.

This is my first time venting about GS since it was my first purchase. I now realize that this topic has been done a bunch of time so sorry for wasting your 2 minutes reading and writing on this thread, but hey, no one forced you to read it

After reading I didn't complain because I expected your post to be in Gaelic either. Even though I knew it wasn't and I really didn't expect it to be... I COULD HAVE DAMN IT!

If that ever happens... Kill me fast and merciful before I infect others.

[Nature Boy]

Unfortunately your idea is just too idealistic

I actually think bitching about the practices on a forum and thinking it will change things is the overly idealistic approach.

If enough customers bring their dollars elsewhere they'd have to eventually do something to get those customers back. If that doesn't happen (and it likely wouldn't with a retailer as large as Gamestop) and you've gone elsewhere who cares? By definition you've found somewhere else to buy your stuff *anyway,* so the practices of Gamestop make no difference. In fact you'll feel better about purchasing games at your new store *because* Gamestop still exists and you know you're not supporting them.

In the end it's your own satisfaction that matters, not anybody else's.

[Nature Boy]

I missed this post last time I checked... I just want to say; Stop mixing calm reason into all this venting and biting sarcasm! It's like watering down a beer. Sure, It makes sense (profit/discussion-wise) but, It's Oh. So. Wrong.

I *totally* apologize. There's nothing worse than watering down beer!